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Wardsmithite

Formula:
Ca
 
5
Mg[B
 
4
O
 
7
]
 
6
 · 30H
 
2
O
System:HexagonalColour:Colourless
Hardness:2½
Name:Named after Ward Cromwell Smith (b. 1906), geologist, U.S. Geological Survey.
This page provides mineralogical data about Wardsmithite.

Classification of Wardsmithite

IMA status:Approved 1967
Strunz 8th edition ID:5/H.12-30
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:6.HA.25

6 : BORATES
H : Unclassified borates
A :
Dana 8th edition ID:26.7.7.1

26 : HYDRATED BORATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
7 : Miscellaneous
Hey's CIM Ref.:9.3.24

9 : Borates
3 : Borates of Ca and Sr
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Type Occurrence of Wardsmithite

Type Locality:Furnace Creek District, Death Valley, Inyo Co., California, USA
Year of Discovery:1970

Physical Properties of Wardsmithite

Colour:Colourless
Hardness (Mohs):2½

Crystallography of Wardsmithite

Crystal System:Hexagonal

Optical Data of Wardsmithite

Type:Uniaxial (-)
RI values: nω = 1.490 nε = 1.476
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.014

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Moderate

Chemical Properties of Wardsmithite

Formula:
Ca
 
5
Mg[B
 
4
O
 
7
]
 
6
 · 30H
 
2
O
Essential elements:B, Ca, H, Mg, O
All elements listed in formula:B, Ca, H, Mg, O

Relationship of Wardsmithite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
6.HA.05Chelkarite
CaMgB
 
2
O
 
4
(Cl,OH)
 
2
·5H
 
2
O Or near, with Cl:OH = 3:1
6.HA.10Braitschite-(Ce)
(Ca,Na
 
2
)
 
7
(Ce,La)
 
2
B
 
22
O
 
43
·7H
 
2
O
6.HA.15Satimolite
KNa
 
2
Al
 
4
[Cl|B
 
2
O
 
5
]
 
3
 · 13H
 
2
O
6.HA.20Iquiqueite
K
 
3
Na
 
4
Mg(CrO
 
4
)B
 
24
O
 
39
(OH)·12H
 
2
O
6.HA.35Halurgite
Mg
 
2
[B
 
4
O
 
7
]
 
2
 · 5H
 
2
O
6.HA.40Ekaterinite
Ca
 
2
[(Cl,OH)
 
2
|B
 
4
O
 
7
] · 2H
 
2
O
6.HA.45Vitimite
Ca
 
6
[(OH)
 
14
|SO
 
4
|B
 
14
O
 
19
]·5H
 
2
O
6.HA.50Canavesite
Mg
 
2
[CO
 
3
|HBO
 
3
] · 5H
 
2
O
6.HA.55Qilianshanite
NaHCO
 
3
 · H
 
3
BO
 
3
 · 2H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:
9.3.1Calciborite
Ca[B
 
2
O
 
4
]
9.3.2Sibirskite
Ca
 
2
[B
 
2
O
 
5
] · H
 
2
O
9.3.3Fabianite
CaB
 
3
O
 
5
OH
9.3.4Uralborite
Ca
 
2
[B
 
3
O
 
3
(OH)
 
5
·OB(OH)
 
3
]
9.3.5Vimsite
CaB
 
2
O
 
2
(OH)
 
4
9.3.6Olshanskyite
Ca
 
3
[OH|{B(OH)
 
4
}
 
2
]
 
2
9.3.7Frolovite
Ca[B(OH)
 
4
]
 
2
9.3.8Korzhinskite
CaB
 
2
O
 
4
·H
 
2
O
9.3.9Tyretskite
Ca
 
2
B
 
5
O
 
9
OH·H
 
2
O
9.3.10Nifontovite
CaB
 
2
O
 
4
·2.3H
 
2
O
9.3.12Inyoite
Ca(H
 
4
B
 
3
O
 
7
)(OH) · 4H
 
2
O
9.3.13Gowerite
Ca[B
 
5
O
 
8
(OH)][B(OH)
 
3
]·3H
 
2
O
9.3.14Colemanite
Ca[B
 
3
O
 
4
(OH)
 
3
] · H
 
2
O
9.3.15Pentahydroborite
CaB
 
2
O(OH)
 
6
 · 2H
 
2
O
9.3.16Hexahydroborite
Ca[B(OH)
 
4
]
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
9.3.17Meyerhofferite
Ca
 
2
(H
 
3
B
 
3
O
 
7
)
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
9.3.18Priceite
Ca
 
2
B
 
5
O
 
7
(OH)
 
5
·H
 
2
O
9.3.19Ginorite
Ca
 
2
B
 
14
O
 
23
·8H
 
2
O
9.3.20Probertite
NaCaB
 
5
O
 
7
(OH)
 
4
·3H
 
2
O
9.3.21Ulexite
NaCa[B
 
5
O
 
6
(OH)
 
6
] · 5H
 
2
O
9.3.22Hydroboracite
CaMg[B
 
3
O
 
4
(OH)
 
3
]
 
2
 · 3H
 
2
O
9.3.23Inderborite
CaMg(H
 
3
B
 
3
O
 
7
)
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
9.3.25Henmilite
Ca
 
2
Cu[(OH)
 
2
|B(OH)
 
4
]
 
2
9.3.26Strontioborite
SrB
 
8
O
 
11
(OH)
 
4
9.3.27Veatchite
Sr
 
2
B
 
11
O
 
16
(OH)
 
5
·H
 
2
O
9.3.28Veatchite-A
Sr
 
2
B
 
11
O
 
16
(OH)
 
5
·H
 
2
O
9.3.29 P-Veatchite
9.3.30 Balavinskite
Sr
 
2
B
 
6
O
 
11
·4H
 
2
O
9.3.31Tunellite
SrB
 
6
O
 
9
(OH)
 
2
·3H
 
2
O
9.3.32Strontioginorite
(Sr,Ca)
 
2
B
 
14
O
 
23
·8H
 
2
O

Other Names for Wardsmithite

Synonyms:
IMA1967-030
German names:
Wardsmithit
Spanish names:
Wardsmithita

Other Information

Health Warning:No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

References for Wardsmithite

Reference List:Erd, R.C., J.F. McAllister & A.C. Vlisidis (1970), Wardsmithite 5CaO•MgO•12B2O3•30H2O, a new borate mineral from the Death Valley region, California: American Mineralogist: 55: 349-357.

Grew, E.S., and Anovitz, L.M. (1996) BORON: Mineralogy, Petrology and Geochemistry, second edition, as revised (2002).

Articles/Blogs about Wardsmithite

Internet Links for Wardsmithite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
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  • Wardsmithite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    Localities for Wardsmithite

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    The map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
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    (TL) indicates type locality. ? indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. All other localities listed without reference should be considered as uncertain and unproven until references can be found.
    USA
     
    • California
      • Inyo Co.
        • Death Valley
            • Black Mts
    		www.mineralsocal.org
    Am Min 64:3-4 pp 369-375
    Mineral and/or Locality
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